Chapter 49 – Lost Phone

Jian Mei held his breath, feeling a bit nervous. Finally, he gently opened his lips and said, “I love you.”

Lu Xingwang, who had been flipping through a file, paused his actions. Sitting at the desk, he seemed to freeze for a moment. He was not someone who was oblivious to social matters, and of course, he understood the meaning behind those words. He asked, “What did you say?”

This short question somehow made Jian Mei, who initially didn’t think much of it, even more nervous. He wanted to explain, “I meant to say…”

But Lu Xingwang was quicker, “You’re out with your friends, did you have a drink?”

Jian Mei hesitated for a moment, then honestly replied, “No, I didn’t.”

Lu Xingwang raised an eyebrow, “Then how did you say that? Did someone teach you?”

If he had been on the call with someone else, it might have given rise to some ambiguity, but it just happened to be Lu Xingwang, who was as strict as a father. So, all Jian Mei received was a lesson.

Nervously, Jian Mei explained, “No, I lost in Truth or Dare, and this was the punishment.”

Lu Xingwang just said, “I see,” and didn’t say much more.

While Jian Mei was still contemplating, Lu Xingwang’s voice came from the phone, “You can continue playing, have a good time at your gathering, and say hello to your classmates for me.”

Jian Mei replied, “Uh?”

The call was disconnected.

The classmates in the room looked at him, and Lu Xingwang’s handling of the situation was so proper and dignified that, although he didn’t reveal much, it made everyone very curious. They all swarmed over, “Jian Mei, who was that?”

“His voice is so nice.”

“You blushed just now.”

Jian Mei slowly caught up, and he unconsciously touched his cheek, saying in confusion, “Did I?”

Xiao Pang chuckled and said, “I thought you were a straight mqn who never developed romantic feelings. It turns out finding the right person is the most important thing. I’ve learned something.”

Jian Mei gave him a sharp look, “You guys are just making things up. He’s a friend I’ve known for a long time.”

Xiao Pang suddenly realized, “So it’s DaZhuang ge, isn’t it!”

“Oh my, just hearing that name feels so down-to-earth. In Jian Mei’s usual descriptions, DaZhuang ge’s life seemed so tough. He knew he had a friend with this name, but he always thought, ‘What a country sideboy.”

But just now, when he heard the voice, it was nothing like a countryside boy; it was more like a domineering CEO! Why on earth does the CEO go by this name? It’s truly heartbreaking for the listener!

Jian Mei nodded, ”I probably blushed because it’s a bit hot in here. You guys go ahead and eat. I’ll make a quick trip to the restroom.”

Xiao Pang said, ”Sure, go ahead.”

But compared to Jian Mei, who could console himself with the excuse of the heat in the room, Lu Xingwang, sitting alone at the desk, fell into a brief silence. The documents placed in front of him had not been turned for a long time. His gaze remained fixed on the pages, but his attention was elsewhere.

In fact, he was far from as calm as he had appeared during the call. His usual pretense was only an instinctive reaction. In reality, his inner state was known only to himself. When Jian Mei uttered those words, there was a moment of blankness in his mind. His normally unwavering self-control had momentarily cracked.

If he were to be honest with himself, he had been confessed to before, and countless people had shown interest in him since he was young. However, he had never been interested in such matters and had never reacted to them. He thought it was due to his personality. But just now, for a brief moment, he had felt something entirely new. It was a sensation he had never experienced before. Of course, he was not naive enough to make excuses for himself. That’s why he was sitting there, lost in thought.

It wasn’t for any other reason—

Just because he was keenly aware of one thing: Jian Mei, this child, no matter what, had grown up.

…

On the other side:

Jian Mei had just come out of the restroom when he turned a corner and encountered Class Monitor Meng Ting, who was leaning against the wall. She seemed to be carrying some heavy burden and looked like she had something difficult to express.

Jian Mei halted and looked at her, ”Class Monitor?”

Meng Ting lifted her head, ”Mei Mei.”

”Yeah,” Jian Mei said, ”Class Monitor, what are you doing here? Did you come to use the restroom too?”

Meng Ting’s palms unconsciously sweated, and she said, ‘Uh… yes, I did.’

Jian Mei smiled and said, ‘Well, go ahead.’

Meng Ting saw him about to leave and hastily called him, ”Hey, wait!”

Jian Mei turned back, looking somewhat puzzled. “What’s wrong?”

Meng Ting found it hard to explain her feelings. She was nervous and anxious, even though she knew Jian Mei didn’t have any romantic interests. But she couldn’t help feeling uneasy. What if, just what if, emotions could be cultivated slowly? What if Jian Mei was willing to give it a try?

So, she finally spoke up. “Um, Jian Mei, there are some things I can’t say openly at school, but I’ve always been very grateful to you.”

Jian Mei raised an eyebrow in confusion and asked, “Class Monitor, are you talking about something from our freshman year?”

Meng Ting nodded. Despite her family’s good financial situation, her upbringing was quite conservative, and she was a girl who cared a lot about her image. She remembered the day when the homeroom teacher announced class monitor elections. She had prepared for a long time but, due to extreme nervousness, she ended up hiccuping.

It was truly embarrassing!

She was about to go up and give her speech, but she couldn’t stop hiccuping. Her well-rehearsed speech was completely erased from her mind. She thought that not only would she fail the election, but she might also face ridicule. She felt terrible, but at that moment, she met Jian Mei.

Both of them were freshmen at the time, and Jian Mei, a boy she didn’t know well, kindly asked, “Are you feeling unwell?”

Meng Ting’s face turned bright red, and her restless posture could easily lead to misunderstandings. She wanted to shake her head, but to her surprise, she hiccuped. She felt both anxious and frustrated. She thought she would be laughed at, but to her astonishment, Jian Mei didn’t mock her. On the contrary, he simply paused for a moment and then comforted her, saying, “It’s okay, relax.”

Meng Ting let out a deep breath.

Jian Mei’s hand was somewhat cool, but his fair and slender fingers were very attractive. He held Meng Ting’s hand, as if he was helping her stimulate some acupoints. While doing so, he spoke with such gentle and soothing tones that it inexplicably calmed Meng Ting’s anxious heart. “It’s nothing. It’s just the normal circulation of your body’s qi and blood. Don’t be nervous; it will be fine soon.”

Meng Ting gazed into his eyes, which were so tranquil and clear that she involuntarily got lost in them.

Jian Mei said, “It’s done.”

Meng Ting was surprised that she had daydreamed even in this situation but, when she came back to her senses, she realized she had actually stopped hiccuping. “It’s really…done?”

Jian Mei smiled and said, “Really.”

The class monitor called her name at just the right moment. She didn’t even have time to say a word of thanks before heading to the stage. Later, she learned that Jian Mei had also participated in the election, but as her competitor, he unhesitatingly chose to help her. Some people make remarkable appearances that are destined to leave a significant mark on the trajectory of one’s life.

Meng Ting stood in the hotel corridor, pulling on her dress. She finally overcame her nervousness and softly began, “Actually, Jian Mei, you should understand what I mean…”

Jian Mei was stunned for a moment, then nodded firmly. “I understand.”

Meng Ting suddenly looked up, her eyes gleaming. “Really?”

Jian Mei said, “Really.”

He was genuinely surprised that the class monitor remembered this act of kindness from two years ago and even went out of her way to express her gratitude on her birthday.

“Did you, by any chance, misunderstand something?” Meng Ting hesitated and then confirmed, “I actually want to express my feelings to you.”

Jian Mei said, “I know.”

Meng Ting first hesitated, and then she burst with excitement. “Really? So, what do you mean?”

“Well, Class Monitor, you don’t have to be so formal. I understand what you mean.” Jian Mei thought that the class monitor might have exaggerated his contribution, so he wanted to give her some reassurance. “You know, because you were quite strict before, I never had a chance to talk to you. But honestly, I always felt that even without my help that day, you would have been selected. So you don’t really need to thank me because you are truly outstanding, and I admire you a lot.”

Outstanding.

Was this him praising himself?

Meng Ting’s face turned uncontrollably red. She hadn’t expected that, despite Jian Mei usually being reserved, his words were quite charming. “Well, since you understand, maybe we can…”

Jian Mei thought she had regained her confidence, so he smiled brightly. “Let’s get along well from now on.”

Meng Ting’s heart blossomed with joy. She was very glad she had confessed today. Taking the plunge really did lead to a good result. Now she and her crush had mutual feelings, which was extremely sweet. “Okay!”

Jian Mei said, “I should get going now.”

Meng Ting nodded and asked, “Tonight… will you accompany me back home?”

Jian Mei was puzzled by the class monitor’s unexpected question. It wasn’t on his way.

“I’m meeting Xiao Pang at his house tonight.” Jian Mei said, “If your parents can’t pick you up, we can call a taxi for you.”

Meng Ting’s initial sweetness was somewhat diluted, as she hadn’t anticipated this response. Nevertheless, she wasn’t ready to give up. She forced a smile and replied, “It’s okay; I’ll call my dad. You don’t need to worry.”

Jian Mei then smiled, “Alright.”

The two of them walked back separately, and their classmates cast curious glances, trying to dig up some gossip about the two of them.

Cai Zhenzhen’s friend Xiao Fei said, “Zhenzhen, do you think the class monitor went to confess his feelings?”

Cai Zhenzhen, while eating her cake, replied, “Meng Ting is usually quite timid, and she claims to be an artistic genius. She talks in a roundabout way, and she probably recites poetry in every sentence. If she’s confessing, I can’t even imagine how she’d say it.”

Xiao Fei asked with some concern, “But will she be successful?”

After all, when they saw Meng Ting return just now, her face was flushed with joy.

Cai Zhenzhen firmly shook her head and explained, “No, because Jian Mei doesn’t even have such concept in his mind. Even if Meng Ting confesses, as long as it’s not straightforward, Jian Mei might think she wants to become his sworn sister. ”

Xiao Fei rolled her eyes, “You can never understand the mindset of straight guys.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Jian Mei sitting with the group of people not far away, chatting and laughing.

Over the years, Jian Mei had visibly matured. He had transformed from a somewhat introverted and reserved boy in middle school to the confident young man he was now. Despite his initial introversion, he had learned to blend into the school environment and interact effortlessly with people. However, he still maintained his personal values and life attitude. He had a gentle personality and preferred a quiet and peaceful life. In his spare time, he often read books or used his phone, immersing himself in his own world.

At first, Cai Zhenzhen found such people boring. However, as she learned more about Jian Mei’s medical history and the many years he had spent in the hospital, she couldn’t help but look at him when he was sitting alone at a desk, reading a book when no one was around. It was as if, through the teenager sitting at the desk, she could glimpse the image of the frail child who used to sit alone on a hospital bed, reading books.

He had lived like that since childhood.

While other children were playing and having fun, he had already become accustomed to living that way.

Sometimes Jian Mei’s thought process was different from everyone else’s. Cai Zhenzhen had previously thought he was a bit slow, but later realized it was due to a lack of experience. He had no friends, hadn’t integrated into a group, and had been in the hospital since the age of six. He hadn’t experienced an ordinary childhood.

Cai Zhenzhen took a sip of her fruit wine and said, “If we want to wait for him to come around, it will take several years at least.”

Xiao Fei said, “Zhenzhen, you certainly understand Jian Mei better than Meng Ting.”

Cai Zhenzhen smiled but didn’t say anything.

Meng Ting had only known him for a short while. She had been around for a very, very long time. When it came to time and experience, this little girl couldn’t compare to her. If she had been confident, she would have made her move a long time ago. Would she even have a chance now?

…

In the evening

Jian Mei had finished washing up at Xiao Pang’s house and was lying in bed sending a message to Lu Xingmo, letting him know he was safe.

Xiao Pang came over and asked, “Mei Mei, who are you texting?”

Jian Mei replied, “DaZhuang ge.”

Xiao Pang teased, “Always DaZhuang ge. Let me tell you, if you have the perseverance and dedication to pursue girls, you’ll definitely have no trouble finding a wife.”

Jian Mei put his phone away and said, “I have no intention of getting married.”

Xiao Pang was taken aback. “What are you talking about, Mei Mei?”

“Really”.Jian Mei, in his sky blue cartoon pajamas, leaned against the pillow with a calm expression and explained, “Because you know my condition. My illness hasn’t been completely cured. Although the results of the follow-up examinations have been okay, there’s always a possibility of relapse at any time. I can’t offer a girl a stable future, and I don’t want to hold someone back.”

Xiao Pang felt a bit uncomfortable in his heart and said, “You don’t need to think like that. I believe that in the future, technology will advance further, and your illness will definitely be curable.”

Jian Mei showed him a comforting smile. Even though he was the one being comforted, he always had the ability to make the other person feel healed. “Thank you.”

Xiao Pang was a bit embarrassed, but he still wanted to console his brother. So he casually added, “Don’t worry, if, in the worst case, you can’t find a wife, you can always find a husband!”

“……”

？

Xiao Pang teased, “I think DaZhuang ge is not bad. How did you guys meet?”

Jian Mei explained, “Don’t joke around. We’re just friends, uh… We met on WeChat, so you could say we’re online friends. Even though we’ve never met in person, he’s a really good person.”

Speaking of WeChat, Xiao Pang glanced at Jian Mei’s phone and asked, “Speaking of which, Mei Mei, what brand is your phone? I’ve never seen it before, and according to what Zhenzhen and the others said, you’ve been using the same phone for four years. Doesn’t it lag? Isn’t the system outdated?”

“I don’t know the brand, probably some no-name one,” Jian Mei picked up his phone that had been with him for many years, “It’s not outdated at all, it functions perfectly, and it’s never lagged.”

Xiao Pang marveled, “A knockoff phone, it’s amazing.”

Jian Mei laughed and they chatted for a long time, but in the end, they couldn’t resist sleep, and Jian Mei didn’t know that he was having a good night sleep, while someone else spent the whole night without proper rest.

When Zuo Qingshan saw Lu Xingwang, he exclaimed, “Your Highness, I heard that you came over to give them extra training last night, and you didn’t sleep the whole night?”

Lu Xingwang raised an eyebrow and looked at him, “Is there a problem?”

“Well, there’s no problem.” Zuo Qingshan touched his nose, “But can your body handle it?”

Lu Xingwang ignored him.

Zuo Qingshan thought this person never ate on time and never slept on time, so he said, “It’s not good if you keep going like this. I might just report to your little friend.”

He couldn’t control His Highness, but someone could, and Jian Mei, that kid with a nagging mouth, let’s see who wouldn’t be afraid

Lu Xingwang gave him a threatening look, finally silencing him.

He was practicing archery, which was his best event, but today, as if following Zuo Qingshan’s words, his performance was unexpectedly poor, and one of the targets even missed.

Zuo Qingshan came over and asked, “What’s wrong with you? Why were you so absent-minded today?”

Lu Xingwang put down his bow and said, “Nothing.”

“Tsk.” Zuo Qingshan, watching his retreating figure, muttered quietly, “If I didn’t know you were a mature single, I would suspect that you recently broke up or something.”

Lu Xingwang’s steps paused briefly before he continued walking out of the door.

Although Zuo Qingshan was merely chatting, the fact that his mistakes today were somewhat related to Jian Mei couldn’t be refuted. He thought that the words from last night didn’t affect him much, but unexpectedly, he couldn’t sleep at all at night. After training in the military camp all night, he still felt a bit distracted. This wasn’t a good sign. In the royal family, romantic distractions were the biggest taboo, and at a crucial time like this, he couldn’t afford to lose focus. His rationality was something he took pride in, and during such critical moments, he wouldn’t allow himself to slip.

He decided that for now, he should reduce contact, give himself some time to sort things out, and allow Jian Mei and his friends to interact better. This decision was for the benefit of both of them.

…

The next day

Jian Mei was awakened by a phone call early in the morning.

He didn’t expect that it was actually Class Monitor who was calling at this time. A bit puzzled, he answered and heard Class Monitor’s voice, “Mei Mei, I have something I want to give you. Are you available to go out today?”

Jian Mei inquired, “What is it?”

Meng Ting was a bit shy; after all, it was her first time planning a date, and she felt a bit embarrassed, “Let’s keep it a secret for now. When you arrive, I’ll tell you.”

Jian Mei sighed, “Alright.”

Xiao Pang, who was also awake, asked, “What’s going on?”

“Class Monitor said she had something for me, and it seems like we’ll meet at the shopping mall,” Jian Mei yawned, “Is it close to your place? I don’t have a car, so can you ride your bike and take me there?”

Xiao Pang nodded, “Sure, you can treat me to a meal.”

Jian Mei was generous, “No problem, after we pick up the thing, we can have a meal.”

Xiao Pang quickly got up to freshen up and followed Jian Mei. Today was the weekend, and the mall was crowded. Meng Ting had been waiting for Jian Mei with a smile on her face, but her expression turned awkward when she saw Xiao Pang beside him.

Jian Mei asked, “What do you want to give me, Class Monitor?”

Meng Ting had something in her pocket, but she couldn’t take it out in front of Xiao Pang, so she came up with an impromptu excuse, “Well, because you’ve helped me a lot before, I’d like to treat you to a meal.”

Xiao Pang said, “Class Monitor, you’re too polite.”

Meng Ting smiled awkwardly.

Jian Mei said, “Indeed, it’s a bit too polite. But since we’re here, I’ll treat you both to a meal. What would you like to eat?”

“Anything is fine.”

Both of them answered together.

Jian Mei was about to agree, but he noticed a child walking unsteadily. The floor ahead was uneven, and the child was about to fall. So Jian Mei quickly went over to help, and after the child was stable, he turned around but accidentally bumped into a passerby coming from behind. He lowered his head and apologized, “Sorry.”

The middle-aged person wearing a mask shook his head and walked away.

Jian Mei glanced at him for a moment and felt something was strange.

Xiao Pang came over and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Jian Mei shook his head lightly, “Let’s go upstairs for our meal.”

Xiao Pang quickly agreed. Although he didn’t understand why Class Monitor was acting strangely, he was happy to get a free meal. So the three of them discussed for a moment and decided to have hotpot. When they reached the top floor and found a hotpot restaurant to sit down, a server said, “You can order by scanning the QR code with your mobile phones.”

Jian Mei nodded and instinctively reached into his pocket for his phone. However, his actions froze in place.

Xiao Pang and Meng Ting looked at him with confusion and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Jian Mei’s face slowly turned pale, and then he hurriedly checked his other pockets. Finally, with a growing sense of despair in his eyes, he raised his head and said, “I think I’ve lost my phone.”

Translator’s Note-Guys don’t forget to support and comment your views(^-^)